Target apparatus.



INVENTOR ATTDRN EYv 5 Sheets- Sheet l.

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Patented sept. 2, |902.

J. L. MCCULLO'UGH.

Y TARGET APPARATUS. ,Anuncian Alea Apr. ao, 1900. 'Renewed nec. s1,v 1 9o1.)

III I i I. I IIIII II l! No. 7a,245.

(No Model.)

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(Application filed Apr. 30, 1900. Renewed Dec. 81, 1901.)

5 sheets-sheet (No Model.)

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ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, |902.

TARGET APPARATUS. TApplcat'ion led Apr. 3Q, 1900. Renewed Dec. 31, l1901.)

5 sheets-sheet 3.

INVENTOR (No Model.) K

Vl/M7 ATTORNEY E L WITNESSES:

Patented Sept. 2, |902.

J. L. MCCULLOUGH. TARGET APPARATUS A v 'Application led Apr. 30, 1900. Renewsd Dec, 31, 1901., (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Q INVENTOR YM'? .G//MMQY I ATTORNEY WITNESSESE I 2. 0 mw 21. `.u nr 8 S d e t H B V... .d DI

TARGET APPARATUS. (Application led Apr. 30, 1900. Renewed Dec. 3i, 1901.)

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INVENTOR (No Model.) I

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wlTNgssEs' l BY- Qvwv EATTORNEY 1H: uomus Perses on.. Puurmwo.. wAsHmm-cw. u. c

NITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. MOULLOUG'H, OIE IEROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssieNoR TOAUTOMATIO TARGET MACHINE COMPANY, A OORPORATIONOE NEW YORK.

TARG ET APFPA'RAT U s.

SPECIFICATION forming partv of` Letters Patent No. 708,245, dated September 2, 1902.

Application led April 30, 1900. Renewed December 3l, 1901. Serial No. 87.978. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom. it muy concern/r Be it known that I, JOHN L. MCCULLOUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, in the 5 city and State of. New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Target Apparatus, of which vthc following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of target Io devices or apparatuses wherein the marks-A man when he pulls the trigger of the simulated gun or pistol completes an electric circuit which .operates an indicator at the target, which points out the part of the target at which he has aimed.

illustrated in the United States patent granted to me June 2,1896, under No. 561,124, and

in my pending application, Serial No. 8,713, tiled March 15, 1900.

zo The present application comprises improvements in an electric pistol or gun and targetindicating mechanism, including a special form of counterbalanced universal'mounting i for the simulated gun or pistol, all as will be hereinafter minutely and specifically described.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1-is 4o magnetic Vindicator-lock. Fig. 6 is a detailV view of the circuit-closing mechanism and sounder, showing the contact-terminals, the automatic circuit-breaker, the shunt, and the electrical connections; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-section of same at line x7 in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the targetpistol and trigger-contact. Fig. 9 is a diagram of the circuit, shunt, cbc. Fig. 10 is a View illustrating another form of indicator 5o and lock at the target.

` In the embodil'nent herein illustrated the Such an apparatusis` These are genl invention is shown as applied in a small and compact target apparatus, comprising as its major elements a casing 1, a simulated pistol 2, supported on a universal mounting, counterbalanced so as to allowfreedom in aiming, a target 3, and a circuit-closing device, which permits of operating the apparatus only when a contact-piece shall have been inserted.

It'may be stated here that the target made 6o from threads and the circuit-closing devices are specifically distinct inventions not claimed herein, and they are illustrated and described merely because theyor other similar devices are necessary to the full and clear understanding of the invention which forms the object of this application. Some form of penetrable target is important to the present invention, but not necessarily thev specitic i form ofrtheV device herein shown. 7o

The pistol or weapon 2 may be of any kind, as no explosive is employed; but it will be, by preference, a pistol of the kind known as self-cocking-that is, when the marksman `grasps it by the stock in the usual way and pulls on vthe trigger 4 the hammer will rise and fall. Such constructions' are too well known to call for illustration, and only the Aexterior of such a pistol is shown in Fig. 8.

This pistol is ixed on the upper end of a tu- 8o bular supporting-stem 5, which extends down into the casing 1 through an aperture in the top of same, the stem having a weight 6 at its lower end and being universally mounted at 7 in a main carrying-frame 8, which is sus- 85 pcnded at the target on pivots 9.and has a counterbalance-weight 9a. Thus supported and counterbalanced the pistol may be moved up and down and rocked from side to side and forward and back within limits, so as to 9o be aimed at any point on the target`3` The target and its appurtenances willnow be described with especial reference to Figs. 3, 4c, and 5.

10 is the target-box, which is mounted on 95 the casing 1 opposite to the pistol 2 and has at its front a penetrable target 3, here shown of the usual circular form. This target is of peculiar construction, being composed of strands of yarn or thread placed side by side Ioo and drawn across a ring or hoop. Preferably there will be two layers or sets of these strands,

one layer or set crossing the other at right cludes the solenoid-coil 11, the coil of the lockangles or at some angle. The object of this construction is to produce a target that may be penetrated or punctured by a rather blunt instrument which will wedge apart the strands and protrude into view without injury to the target, which latter will, however, present the appearance of a solid or impenetrable surface. The threads or yarn used may be white and the sections of the target be indicated by dark circles marked thereon.

Within the target-box 10, behind the target 3, is a solenoid-indicator, comprising a coil 11, having a pointed sliding core 12, provided with a light spring 13 to retract it. This solenoid is mounted on the upright stem of an |.-shaped carrier or arm 14, which springs from the stem 5 of the pistol at the universal mounting 7, so that when the pistol is moved about in aiming the core 12 of the solenoid will move about over the back of the target 3 and quite near it. If a current be sent through the solenoidcoil,this core will be protruded through the target and be visible on the face thereof", indicating to the marksman the point at which the pistol was aimed. Mounted on the same stem or branch of the arm 14, Fig. 5, with the solenoid-indicator is an electromagnet 15, mounted slidably in a suitable bearing 19 on said stem and provided with a light retracting-spring 16. yThe polepiece 17 of this magnet plays close to a fixed iron plate 18, and when the magnet is excited by a current passed through its coil it will be drawn forcibly to the plate 18, to which its pole-piece will attach itself. This device forms an indicator-lock, and as the magnet and solenoid are in one circuit and excited simultaneously the arm 14 will be locked by the magnet 15 against any but forcible movement at the time the pointed core of the solenoid is protruded through the target. Hence the liability of movement of the core laterally to the injury of the target while its point is protruded through the latter is obviated. The tip or point of the indicator 12 may contrast in color with the threads of which the target is composed.

\Vithin the casing lis mounted the circuitclosing device, sounder, &c., which will now be described, with especial reference to Figs. 6, 7, and S.

The metal circuit-closer c is inserted at a slot into a chute 21, which leads itdown to a pocket 22. From this pocket there is a substantially horizontal branch 21 of the chute, which connects with a vertical portion 21, leading to a suitable drawer or receptacle 23. A slide 21C is mounted in a guide 21d and is adapted when pushed in to push the circuitcloser lodged in the pocket 22 along the chute 21 and permit it to fall down the chute 21" to a lodging-place between two terminals 24 and 24 in the circuit and situated at opposite sides of the vertical chute 21". The circuit-closer thus closes a break in the operating-circuit, which comprises the wires w and 10X and ining-magnet 15, the coil of an operating-electromagnet 25, the functions of which will be hereinafter explained, and a generator 26. There is another normally open break in the circuit. (Seen in Figs. 8 and 9.) This break is between two terminals 27 and 27, one of which is carried by the trigger 4. When the trigger is pulled, this break, called the trigger-break, will be closed, and if there is then a closure at the other break between lthe terminals 24 and 24 the closing of the triggerbreak will complete the circuit through the several magnets. When the marksman wishes to test his skill, he drops a circuitcloser into the slot 20, and then pulls an operating-slide 28 along a slot 29 by means ofa knob or handle 30. This slide has a pendent arm 28, which takes behind a stud 31 on the slide 21C and drives the latter in, and when the knob 30 is let go a spring 32 retracts the slide 28.' Itshould be explained here that the terminal 24 at the lower break is hinged and has an arm 33 and aspring thereundertending to put the terminal in operative position; but normally this terminal is held drawn back (see full lines in Fig. 6) by a weight 34 on a cord or connector 35. This cord is passed several times about a shaft or arbor 36, and is thence led to the slide 21, to which it is secured. Now when the slide 21c is pushed in the weight 34 will be raised, the rst part of the movement allowing the terminal 24 to close back into position to intercept the ci rcuitcloser c, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. When the closer c falls in the chute 21b and closes the lower break in the circuit, the latter may then be completed by pulling the trigger, and thus closing the trigger-break. As the slide 21c is moved in the arbor 36 is rotated and a ratchet-wheel 37 thereon engagesaspring-pawl 38, which holds the weight 34 suspended when the slide 21c moves back and slackens the cord 35. On the arbor 36 are or may be retarding fan-blades 39. The pawl 38 is connected to an upright 40 on the armature-lever 41 of the magnet 15, so that when the circuit is completed through this magnet by pulling the trigger it will draw down its armature-lever, and thus release the pawl 38, so that the weight 34 may slowly descend, and finally by depressing the arm 33 it will draw back the terminal 24, so as to release the closer c and allowr it to fall into the casing below or the drawer. This release of the closer c breaks the circuit through the magnets. In order that the release of pressure on the trigger after tiring and the consequent breaking of the circuit at the terminals 27 and 27 may not break the circuit through the solenoid and locking-magnet at the target, a shunt-conductor w is provided and a shunt-circuit closer 42, which is closed by an arm on the upright 40. This shunt when closed by the excitation of the magnet 25 cuts out the trigger-break, so that the circuit through thc magnets will not be inn ICO IIO

enced thereby. As the arm 40 is drawn down to close the shunt-circuit the pawl 3,8 will be drawn out of engagement with the teeth of' the ratchet-wheel 37, so that the Weight 34 may descend rather slowly, being retarded by the fan-blades on the arbor 36.

oid will remain protruded through the target and be visible; but when the weight descends far enough and depresses the arm 33 the terminal 24 will be drawn back and the circuit-4 closer c allowed to drop out of contact. At

this instant the circuit through the solenoid and the magnets l5 and 25 will be broken, the spring 41 of the armature-lever 41 will elevate the latter, thus putting the pawl 38` at 45, is provided with a spring 46, which' causes the flap when drawn. back andl then set free tostrike the box 43 and produce the required sound. TheV slide 28 has a pin 47, which engages an arm 48 on the said flap, so that the latter will be drawn back (see dotted lines, Fig. 6,) when the slide 28 is operated. The ap has on it a suitable catch 49, which when the ap is drawn back: engages'a catch 50 on the armature-lever 41. Consequently when the trigger is pulled and the circuit closed through 4the magnet 25 the movement of its armature-lever sets free the flap 44and allows it to strike the boX. The above-de# scribed construction is only one of many forms in which the sounder may be made.

The indicator and lock at the target have been described as operated electrically ors electromagnetically but they may be as well operated mechanically. An example of a mechanically operable device is illustrated in Fig. 10. In the construction therein shown most of the parts are the same as has been described; but the solenoid and locking-magnet.4

To the operating-slide 2S is connected a pis-` ton-rod, which carries a piston 51a, playing in a cylinder 5l, whereby whenever the slide is operated Aair is compressed in the cylinder and forced thence into a receiver 52. From this receiver a pipe 53 leadsthe air to the target box or chamber 10, where the pipe is coupled to an elastic bulb 54, carried in a holder on the arm 14. The indicator 12 is secured to the bulb, and when compressed air is admitted to the bulb the expansion of the latter drives the indicator through the target. At the same time the other end of the bulb, which is provid ed with a brake-shoe 54a, is pressed against the plate 18 to-form a lock or friction brake. To control the admission During thef descent of the weight 34 the core of the solen-4 ot air to the bulb from the receiver, the pipe 53 has in it a spring-cock 55, which lis normally closed,but which is opened whenever the shunt-magnet 25 is excited. This is effected by connecting the arm ot' the cock with the armature-lever41 by a connector 56. The air is allowed to escape from the bulb by means of a spring-cock 57, which is normally closed and is opened whenever the arm 33 is depressed by the weight 34. A connector 58 connects the arm of the cock 57 with an elbow-lever 59, which is rocked by the arm'33.

The remaining parts are the same as seen in Fig. 6. What has been described herein as a pistol will not of course be a real pistol capable of using powder and ball. Indeed it may be or may simulate any sort of weapon It is convenient to use the termA or irearm.

pistol, but this term is only employed as actly like the trigger of a pistol; but obviously any formof circuit-closer to be operated by the-hand or linger can be used as well. The Word trigger is herein meant to mean any suitable manually-operated circuit-closer at the pistol or weapon.

The circuit-closer c may be any disk or piece of metal which will properly close a circuit between two terminals, and if these pieces be collected in a locked drawer, cofter, or the like they will designate the number of times the target has been operated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a target apparatus, the combination with a penetrable target, a pistol or the like, and a universally-mounted support for the pistol, of an indicator back of the target and connected with the pistol-support, means for operating said indicator to cause it to protrude through the target, and means, controlled by the trigger of the pistol, for setting in operation the said indicator.

2. In a target apparatus, the combination with a penetrable target, a pistol or the like, and a universally-mounted support for the pistol, of an indicator back ot' the target and connectedwith the pistol-support, means for operating said indicator to cause it to protrude through the target, an.indicatorlock, means for operating said lock and means-controlled by the trigger of the pistol for setting 4in operation the said' indicator and lock. 3. Ina target apparatus, the combination with a penetrable target, a pistol or the like, and a universally-,mounted support for the pistol, of an'indicator back of the target and connected with the pistol-support,,means for operating said indicator to cause it to pro- IOO IIO

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trude through the target,and electrical means, controlled by the trigger of the pistol, forsetting in operation the said indicator.

4. In a target apparatus, the combination with a penetrable target, a pistol or the like, and a universally-mounted support for the pistol, of an indicator back of the target and connected with the pistol-support, means for operating said indicator to cause it to protrude through the target, an indicator-lock, means for operating said lock, and electrical means, controlled by the trigger of the pistol, for setting in operation the said indicator and lock.

5. In a target apparatus, the combination with a target, a pistol or the like, and a universally-mounted support for the pistol, of an electrically-operable indicator back of the target and connected with the pistol-support, an indicator-lock, means for actuating said indicator and lock, and electrical means, controlled by the trigger of the pistol, for setting in operation sim ultaneously the said indicator and lock'operating mechanisms.

6. In a target apparatus, the combination with a casing supporting the mechanism, a target, a target-box, a pistol mounted on a support on the casing, the said support, universally mounted in the casing, an indicator behind the target and carried by the pistolsupport, and means for driving the indicator through the target, of electrical means, controlled by the trigger of the pistol, for setting in operation said indicator-actuating means.

'7. In a target apparatus, the combination with a casing supporting the mechanism, a target, a target-box, a pistol mounted on a support on the casing, the said support, universally mounted in the casing, an indicator behind the target and carried by the pistolsupport, means for driving the indicator through the target, an indicator-lock, means for operating said lock, and electrical means controlled by the trigger of the pistol for setting in operation said indicator and lock actuating means.

8. In a target apparatus, the combination with a target, a counterbalanced main frame pivotally suspended at the target, a pistol or the like on a support counterbalanced and jointed universally in said frame, and the said support, of an indicator at the target connected with the pistol-support and adapted to move about the target as the pistol is moved in aiming, means for operating said indicator, and electrical means, controlled by the trigger of the pistol for setting in operation the said indicator-actuating mechanism.

9. In a target apparatus, the combination with the casing,a target-box mounted thereon, a target, and a counterbalanced main frame 8, suspended at the target, of a counterweighted support or stem 5, for the pistol, mounted universally in the frame 8, the arm 14 carried by the stein 5 and extending up into the targetbox, au indicator carried by said arm, and a pistol carried by the said stcm 5.

10. In a target apparatus, the combination with a target, a pistol, an electric circuit adapted to be completed by actuating the trigger of the pistol, and a magnet 25 in the said circuit, of the sounding device, comprising a box 43, a hinged iiap 44, and its spring 46, the armature-lever of the magnet 25, provided With a hook 50, the hook 49 on the flap 44, adapted to engage the hook 50, and means for drawing back said Hap, substantially as set forth.

1l. In a target apparatus, the combination with a target adapted to be penetrated without rupture, of a pointed indicator adapted to be protruded through said target, a simulated firearm, and means, controlled by the firing of said firearm, for operating said indicator.

12. In a target apparatus, the combination with a penetrable target, and a universallymounted pistol capable of being aimed at the target, of a carrier connected with the pistolmounting and situated back of the target, a solenoid-coil mounted on said carrier, the pointed core 12, of said solenoid serving as an indicator for piercing the target, means for retracting said indicator, and an electric circuit including said solenoid-coil and a generator and adapted to be completed through pressure on the trigger of the pistol, substantially as set forth.

13. In a target apparatus, the combination with a penetrable target, and a universallymounted pistol capable of being aimed at the target, of a carrier connected with the pistolmounting and situated back of the target, the solenoid-coil xed in said carrier, the pointed indicator, 12, forming the movable core for the solenoid, means for retracting said core, the locking-electromagnet, the plate 18, and an electric circuit including the coils of the solenoid and the locking-magnet and adapted to be completed through pressure on the trigger of the pistol, substantially as set forth.

14. In a target apparatus, the combination with a target, a universally-mounted pistol or arm capable of being aimed at any part of said target, a solenoid situated back of the target, means connecting said solenoid with the pistol whereby the solenoid is caused to move With'the pistol when thelatteris aimed, the core of said solenoid, adapted, when protruded to visually indicate its position on the target, and an electric circuit including said solenoid and a generator and adapted to be completed through pressure on the trigger of the pistol, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 27th day of April, 1900, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN L. MCCULLOUGII.

Witnesses:

HENRY CONNETT, PETER A. Ross.

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